MUNCIE, Ind. (BP)–Among the resolutions passed at the 47th annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana at the Muncie Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 24-25 was a measure calling on state legislators to pass a marriage amendment for a second time so that the issue can be presented to voters.
The Indiana legislature passed a marriage amendment earlier this year, completing the first step of a lengthy three-step process. It must pass again during the next elected legislature before going to voters, which would be 2008 at the earliest. The House passed the amendment this year, 76-23, the Senate, 42-8. The amendment bans “gay marriage” and prevents the “legal incidents” of marriage from being given to unmarried couples.
“Lead ‘Em In,” based on Luke 19:10, was the convention’s theme, drawing a connection to Southern Baptist Convention’s yearlong “‘Everyone Can’ Kingdom Challenge” to reach 1 million baptisms.
“God made us to be relational and in community,” Mark Hearn, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis and president of the convention, told messengers, using Mark 2:1-12 as his text. When Jesus is in the house, people will be drawn in, he said, and believers need to trust God’s promises and expect Him to act.
“The greatest miracle Jesus will perform in any life is forgiveness from sin,” Hearn said. “Each one reach one!”
A total of 220 messengers representing 92 churches approved a budget of $4,466,236, which is a 1.2 percent increase over the current year. The convention anticipates Cooperative Program receipts of $2,643,938 and will utilize 67.2 percent of the CP receipts in the state and forward 32.8 percent to SBC national and international missions and ministries, up from 32.5 percent during 2005.
Mark Hearn, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was re-elected president. Alan Scott, pastor of Cline Avenue Fellowship in Highland, was elected first vice president in a ballot with one other nominee, Rick Hillard, pastor of Eastlake Baptist Church in Crown Point. William Bailey, pastor of Parkside Baptist Church in Columbus, was elected to the position of second vice president with no opposition. Sandra Irick, a member of Vann Avenue Baptist Church in Evansville, was re-elected recording secretary, and John Reeder, minister of worship at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was elected convention music director.
Indiana Baptists will continue mission partnerships with the Eastern Ukraine, Mexico and the Florida Baptist Convention.
The convention bylaws were revised and adopted unanimously, creating the opportunity for more messengers to participate in the state convention. A 14-member nominating committee was created so that every associational area is represented. Messengers approved a new system for electing executive board members so that every associational area has at least two board members plus additional board members based on the number of churches up to a maximum of six board members. They also clarified that a “cooperating church” with the state convention is one that makes a contribution to the Cooperative Program budget or the state missions offering, along with basic annual church profile information.
Messengers were informed that Allen Haynes, the state’s disaster relief coordinator, had trained more than 500 Indiana Baptists in disaster relief and Indiana churches have sent several teams and given more than $150,000 to help state conventions that experienced natural disasters this past year.
Scott Miller, pastor of Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany, Ind., delivered the annual sermon, challenging the messengers to have a world vision, which requires a paradigm shift to realize that it’s “all about Him, and it’s all about them.”
Miller said God calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because of His covenant promise to save people from all people groups of the earth, and God has so richly blessed America in order that its citizens might share with a lost, hungry world.
Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., brought a message on “Keeping Your Heart Clean and Your Hands Dirty,” challenging messengers toward personal evangelism, realizing that the Gospel is simple, the message of the cross should dominate all ministry, and that the power for witnessing is not in human persuasion but in divine persuasion.
Steve Davis, executive director of the Indiana convention, spoke about “How to Encourage a New Christian — First Steps,” based on Acts 2:41-47. Davis challenged pastors to place a greater emphasis on helping new Christians take the first steps of discipleship, which include baptism and church membership, prayer, Bible study and sharing their faith.
“If God is to allow Southern Baptists to baptize a million people in 2005-06, then we will need to recapture the importance of baptism and church membership,” he said. “Jesus has called us to make disciples, not just decisions. The Christian life isn’t easy, but it’s easier when we encourage new Christians to take the first steps of discipleship.”
In addition to the resolution on marriage, messengers called on state legislators to repeal all forms of gambling in Indiana, and they expressed appreciation for Old Town Hall Baptist Church in Muncie and the East Central Baptist Association for hosting the annual meeting.
The 2006 annual meeting will be Oct.23-24 at Calvary Baptist Church in Seymour.
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